Blue Raiders crowned Sun Belt champs

Three consecutive 3-1 victories this past weekend earned the Blue Raiders volleyball team the Sun Belt Conference championship and their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

MT capped off the weekend with a victory over top seed Florida International University.

“I think FIU thought they were going to come in and roll over us and we showed them that was not going to happen,” head coach Matt Peck said. “FIU is an outstanding team and I think they will have a good run in NCAA tournament this year and I think our team is playing very, very well and we are looking forward to post-season play.”

Senior outside hitter Ashley Mead was named tournament MVP after registering 17 kills and a .353 hitting percentage, going 17-for-34.

“What a story that is,” Peck said. “She made second team all-conference as a senior, which is her only award, and then MVP of the tournament. She stepped it up when the team really needed her to do so. On top of everything, she has a compromised knee and for her to play as hard as she did was truly amazing.”

MT opened the tournament with a win over seventh-seeded University of Arkansas at Little Rock and earned its place in the championship with a win over host Western Kentucky University.

Sophomore Stacy Oladinni added 12 kills of her own, along with a .435 attack percentage. Her defense was also vital, registering eight block assist.

Junior outside hitter Izabella Kozon contributed with 11 kills along with 13 digs while senior Ashley Waugh and sophomore Brynne Henderson added 12 and 11 digs, respectively.

As a team, the Blue Raiders finished the tournament with 59 total kills as well as 11 total blocks.

The last action of the regular season for the Blue Raiders will be Saturday when the team travels to St. Louis, Mo. to take on Saint Louis University.

The NCAA Tournament selection show will air on ESPN News at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The SBC Championship match will be aired on Cox Sports Television Monday at 6 p.m.

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